Typographical casting machine



A. J. STOUGES TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet [N VENTOR I 4 r I A ZTNE Y3 May 23, 1933. J, STOUGES 1,910,570

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 1933- A. J. STOUGES I TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m T M V N l May 23, 1933. A. J. STOUGES 1,910,570

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR AT RNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY J. STOUGES, OF QUEENS VILLAGE,v NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGEN- TI-IALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Application filed May 21,

;This invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler No. 436,532, wherein a melting pot is arranged to deliver molten metal into a slotted mold and up against a composed line of matrices to produce a type bar or slug bearing on its edge type characters corresponding to the intaglio characters of the matrices. In these machines, the molds (usually four in numher) are mounted in a rotatable wheel or disc which may be adjusted to bring any selected mold into use. During each machine cycle of operation, the active mold, by successive partial rotations of the disc, is first presented in a horizontal position for casting of the slug and thereafter presented in a vertical position for ejection of the slug.

In casting the larger slugs, say, from 42 pt. to pt., high spots frequently occur on the printing faces of the slugs and, unless removed, cause corresponding imperfections in the printed matter. Such imperfections are due largely to slight irregularities or unevenness in the bottom surfaces of the matrix cavities or characters and, although extreme care and accuracy are observed in the course of matrix manufacture, the degree of perfection attained in punching or forming the characters is governed more or less by variations in the grain of the metal used and is therefore very uncertain. In overcoming the above difliculty, it has heretofore been the common practice to rub the printing faces of the slugs upon an emery coated block before assemblage in the printing forms. This practice, however, requires that each slug be handled and inspected separately and is slow, tedious, and otherwise objectionable.

The present invention aims to dispense entirely with all such manual operations and contemplates means for automatically finishing the printing faces of the slugs while they are still in the molds. To this end, the machine is equipped with an appropriate tool for dressing the printing faces of the slugs, and means are provided for casting the slugs slightly above the normal type height so-as 1931. Serial N0.'538,910.

to compensate for the metal removed by said tool. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the tool is in the form of a straight edged knife fixedly mounted and adapted to cooperate with the slugs as the mold disc is '5 turned from casting to ejecting position. T he molds wherein the slugs are cast are also made somewhat deeper than usual to produce slugs of the increased height desired. The trimmed slugs not only present an even and level printing face but in addition a superior printing face because of the trimming operation which hardens the type charactors and eliminates the porosity so common in the past.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown merely in preferred form by way of example and as applied to a commercial linotype machine, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of adaptation, which will still be comprised Within its spirit. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine embodying the present improvements Fig. 2 is an enlarged face View, partly in section, of the mold disc and its driving pinion, showing the application of the present improvements Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional comparative views showing the difference in depths of the molds employed and the position of the front knife in relation to slugs cast in the different molds;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of two finished slugs as finally produced;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the front knife supporting bracket, and showing the disc, backknife, and a portion of the mold slide in elevation;

Fig.8 is a top plan View of the front knife supporting bracket and parts immediately adjacent thereto;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View of said bracket;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. f and 5 illustrating an alternative construction; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views illust at-- ing, respectively, the action of the front knife on slugs of greater than normal type heightand the relation said knife bears to a slug of normal type height.

A line of matrices X composed in the assembler B (Fig. 1) is lifted between the depending fingers of the delivery slide C and transferred thereby through the intermediate channel D and into the vertically movable transporter or so-called first elevator E, which thereupon descends to present the line in front of a slotted mold carried by the rotatable wheel or disc F. The mold disc F is then advanced bodily from the rear to v carry the rib orlip of the active mold into engaging relation to the lower projecting ears w of the matrices preparatory to the justification of the line and the alinement of the matrix characters with the mold slot. At this time, the front face of the mold is out ofcontact with the matrix line although closely spaced therefrom (about 1/64), the final lock-up or sealing of the mold slot being subsequently effected by the forward movement of the metal pot- G. This latter operation, which takes place under powerful spring tension, forces the mouthpiece G of the pot G against the back. of the mold and moves the disc F and its supporting slide F independently of their respective controlling mechanisms, forwardly to close the small gap between the matrix line and the face of the mold.

Molten metal is now pumped into the mold by the descent of the pot plungers (not shown), and, after the slug is cast, the mold slide F is retracted to carry the mold out of contact with the line and the disc F then given a three-quarter turn in an anti-clockwise direction to carry the slug from the casting to the ejecting position. During such rotation of the disc F, the active mold is swept past a stationary back knife H which is arranged behind the disc and adapted to trim off any burs or surplus metal that may adhere to the rear edge of the slug.

So far as described, the parts, their con struction, and mode of operation, except as hereinafter pointed out, are or may be the same as those embodied in the commercial linotype machine and in themselves constitute no part of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the disc F is equipped as usual with four molds, F F F F and one of which may be brought into use by adjusting the disc manually about its axis through the medium of the driving pinion F The molds F are representative of the plain unrecessed variety used for casting faces from 5% pt. to pt. body size, whereas the molds F are representative of the larger head-letter or recessed variety, which are used mainly in casting display faces ranging in size, say, from 36 pt. to pt.

he several molds are mounted in pockets or apertures F and secured in place against the face of the disc by clamping screws f. The rear faces of all four molds, as may be observed, are flush with the rear face of the disc F in order that the slugs produced in each may be properly trimmed by the knife H in the manner above mentioned. In the present instance, however, and in carrying out the invention, the molds F (see Figs. 3, 4; and 5) are made somewhat deeper than the molds F (which produce slugs O of normal height) so as to produce slugs P of slightly greater than normal type height, thus providing a small excess of metal on the type characters to be shaved off otherwise removed in obtaining the flawless printing faces desired.

This proposed change in the form of the molds carried by the disc F will not affect other parts of the machine in the normal operation thereof, since the difference in height of the molds F and F is but .002 and therefore well within the 1/6 clerv ance space allowed between the race of the mold and the matrix line during justification and alinement. In other words, when the mold slide F is advanced for the casting operation under its own power positive movement) and one of the deeper molds is in use, the front face of said mold will stand slightly closer to the matrix line than would the corresponding face of a normal mold F at such time, but the clearance will still be abundant for the required relative movement between the matrices and mold during the justifying and alining operations. Likewise, the slight difference in the extent of the forward movement of the disc F, due to the difference in depth of the respective molds F F and which is limited by the iatriX line, is Compensated for by the resiliency of the pot spring when the mouth of the pot is pushed against the back of the mold.

As a result of the increased depth of the molds F", the front faces of the type characters on the slugs P cast therein will be disposed slightly forward of the corresponding faces of the type characters on the slugs 0 cast in the normal molds F when the mold disc F is backed away from the matrix. line preparatory to its rotation (compare Figs. 4- and 5). Consequently, in casting the slugs in either molds F F, the regular linotype matrices may be used, notwithstanding the fact that the intaglio cavities or characters 00 of said matrices. irrespective of body size or font, are of uniform depth.

As before stated, the present invention provides means for dressing down or shaving the printing faces of slugs P cast in the deeper molds F said means in the embodiment illustrated consisting of stationary knife or cutting blade J mounted on a bracket J 1 and arranged directly opposite the back knife H, the latter being located as: usual on the lateral bifurcated extension .F of the mold slide F (see Fig. 7 The bracket J is secured by a pair of screw bolts J to the respective arms f of the extension F and is formed with an'angular offset member J whereon the knife J is supported at the desired inclination.

In order to permit a proper setting of the knife J, it is attached (as best shown in Fig. 3) to the offset member 3 by means of screw and slot connections j, and is suported edgewise thereon by a pair of adjustable banking screws j, mounted in corresponding ears or lugs rising from the front edge of the offset member. lVhen the knife is properly positioned, the cutting edge thereof (see Figs. 3, l and 5) is located at such distance from the mold disc F that it will just clear the type characters formed on slugs 0 cast in thenormal molds F but due to the slightly increased height of the slugs P cast in the deeper molds F the tops of the type characters P thereon will overlap the cutting edge of the knife J and be shaved off thereby as the disc is rotated. Any irregularities that may have previously been present in the printing faces of the slugs P are thus removed and as a result smooth, flat and solid printing faces are produced. The dressing of the slugs of course brings them to the normal type height and they may, therefore, be used as required in conjunction with the slugs 0 cast in the normal molds F (see Fig. 6).

As the slugs undergo the trimming action of the front knife J, it is important that the active mold F be guided and sustained at this point in the rotation of the disc F in order to insure a perfectly even trim an prevent undue rearward strain on the disc. For this purpose, the bracket J (see Figs. 8 and 9) is provided with a vertically disposed Wear shoe J formed with upper and lower guiding surfaces j which fit against the rear face of the mold disc F near the outer edge thereof. As shown in Fig. 9, the shoe J is loosely mounted on key plates j and clamped in place by the bolts J 2 between the bracket J 1 and the extension F of the mold slide.

he bracket J also presents guiding surfaces i corresponding to the surfaces on the shoe J and which fit against the front face of the disc F. These front guiding surfaces j are adapted to restrain or hold the disc F against forward displacement when the rear edges of the slugs are trimmed by the back knife H. Inthis. way, the

disc F and hence the molds F and F thereon, are firmly supported and guided in a definite path as the slugs are trimmed by the knives and H.

I .According to the foregoing arrangement, the extra .002 thickness of metal cast on the type. characters of the slugs P to permit them to be shaved or dressed in the manner described is afforded preferably by a corresponding increase in the depth of a the molds F so that the vast number of regular matrix fonts now in use may be utilized in conjunction therewith. HOW- ever, the invention also contemplates, as an alternative construction, the use with molds of normal height of matrices having formative cavities of slightly greater than normal depth. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the intaglio cavity or character y of the matrix! Y is made .002 deeper than ordinarily so as to produce the desired excess of metal on the type characters R of the slug R cast in a normal or regular head-letter mold Z. In this particular arrangement, the side walls of the matrix cavity are preferably made square or right-angular (as shown) instead of beveled as heretofore, but only to the extent of increase in the depth thereof (na1ne- 1y, .002), so as thereby to retain the standard proportions or surface area of the corresponding type character cast in the matrix cavity after that character has undergone the trimming operation. By way of contrast, it maybe stated that if the walls of the matrix cavity were beveled as usual, the type character cast therein would necessarily have beveled side walls and hence when trimmed down would present a printing surface of greater area than as defined by the matrix cavity. This is one of the reasons why in the first embodiment described the slugs cast in the normal molds F are not intended tobe trimmed.

WVhile the invention has herein been disclosed as applied to machines for casting printing slugs ofv standard type height, it will be understood that it is equally applicable to machines for casting printing slugs of less than standard type height, as for example low slugs which when in use are supported upon blocks or fillers which position them at type height. The invention aims to cast slugs (whatever their kind) of slightly more than a given height so that when the printing faces are dremed down the finished slug will be of the required height.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of means for casting printing slugs of slightly greater than a given height, and automatic means for dressing the printing faces of the cast slugs to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce them to the given height.

2. In a typographical casting machine, equipped with matrices having formative cavities of normal depth, the combination of a mold of slightly greater than normal depth for-casting printing slugs against composed lines of said matrices, and automatic means for dressing the printing faces of the cast slugs to remove irregularities or highspots in the type characters and to reduce them to normal height.

3. In a typographical casting machine, equipped with matrices having formative cavities of slightly greater than normal depth, the combination of a mold of normal depth for casting printing slugs against composed lines of said matrices, and automatic means for dressing the printing faces of the cast slugs to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce them to normal height.

4. In a typographical casting machine, equipped with matrices having formative cavities ofnormal depth, the combination of a plurality of molds for casting printing slugs against composed lines of said matrices, one mold being of normal depth, and another of slightly greater than normal depth, a mold carrier adjustable to bring either mold into use to the exclusion of the other, and automatic means for dressing the printing faces of slugs cast in the deeper mold to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce them to normal height, said means being inoperative upon slugs cast in the normal depth mold.

5. In a typographical casting machine, equipped with matrices having formative cavities of normal depth, the combination of a plurality of molds for casting printing slugs against composed lines of said matrices, one mold being of normal depth, and another of slightly greater than normal depth, a disc wherein the molds are mounted and rotatable during each machine cycle of operation to carry a selected mold from casting to ejecting position, and a stationary knife arranged to shave the printing faces of slugs cast in the deeper mold as the disc is rotated, and to stand clear of slugs cast in the normal depth mold.

6. A combination as specified in claim 5, including means associated with the stationary knife for properly sustaining the mold against facewise displacement during the slug shaving operation.

7. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slug casting molds, one of normal depth, and another of slightly greater than normal depth, a disc wherein the molds are mounted and rotatable during each machine cycle of operation to carry a selected mold from casting to ejecting position, and a pair of fixed knives arranged adjacent to the front and rear faces of the disc respectively, one of said knives being adapted as the disc is rotated to remove surplus metal adhering to the bases of slugs cast in either of said molds, and the other knife being adapted simultaneously to shave the printing faces of slugs cast in the deeper mold only, as and for the purpose described.

8. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a slug casting mold of slightly greater than normal depth, a rotatable disc wherein the mold is mounted, a back knife for trimming the bases of slugs cast in the mold, a front knife for simultaneously trimming the printing faces of said slugs, and guide means common to both knives for restraining the disc against facewise displacement in either direction during the slug trimming operations.

9. A combination as specified in claim 8, characterized by the fact that the guide means therein referred to consists of a fixed bracket presenting opposed guiding surfaces for sustaining the disc facewise during the slug trimming operations and serving as a means of support for the said front knife.

10. 111 a typographical casting machine, the combination of a slug casting mold, a rotatable disc whereon the mold, is mounted, a front knife adapted as the disc is rotated to shave the printing faces of slugs cast in said mold, a fixed bracket Whereto the knife is rigidly attached, and a wear shoe adjustably mounted in said bracket for restraining the disc facewise against rearward displacement during the slug shaving operation.

11. A combination as in claim 10, including a slide whereon the mold disc is rotatably mounted and characterized by the fact that the knife supporting bracket therein referred to is fastened to said slide.

12. A combination as specified in claim 3, characterized by the fact that the side walls of the matrix cavities therein referred to are square or right angular to the extent of the increase in depth of said cavities, for the purpose described.

13. In a typographical casting machine, the combination of a slug casting mold, a periodically rotatable disc carrying said mold, and a stationary knife arranged to shave the printing faces of slugs cast in said mold during the normal rotation of the disc.

14. The .method of producing printing slugs, which consists in casting the slugs of slightly greater than a given height, and then dressing the printing faces of the east slugs to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce them to the given height.

15. The method of producing printing slugs, which consists in casting the slugs of slightly greater than normal type height, and shaving down the printing faces of the slugs to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce the slugs to normal type height.

16. In a typographical casting machine,

the combination of a mold for casting printing slugs of slightly greater than a given height, and automatic means operative in the normal operation of the machine for dressing the printing faces of the cast slugs to remove irregularities or high spots in the type characters and to reduce them to the given height.

17 In a line casting machine, the combination of a mold carrying member, and a oooperative finishing device mounted to act upon the type face of a slug in a mold carried by said member.

18. In a line casting machine, the combination of a mold carrying member, and a co- 20 operative finishing device to act upon the type face of a slug in a mold carried by said member, said member and device being relatively movable to cause the finishing device to traverse the length of the type face of the slug.

19. In a line casting machine, the combination of a movable member carrying a type slug casting mold, and a dressing device mounted to act on the type face of a slug in {)he mold during the movement of said mem- 20. In a line casting machine, the combination of a rotatable mold Wheel carrying a type slug casting mold, and a dressing deyice located opposite to the face of the mold Wheel to act on the type face of a slug in the mold during rotation of the mold Wheel.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

ANTHONY J. STOUGES. 

